Victor Potel
Acting • Born 1889-10-12 – Died 1947-03-08
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in over 430 films in his 38-year career. Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his acting career goes back almost to the beginning of the commercial film industry in the United States. He made his first silent film in 1910, a comedy short filmed in Chicago by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company called A Dog on Business. Potel continued to make films for Essanay, appearing in dozens of films every year, including most of the Broncho Billy series, and played a character called "Slippery Slim" in 80 movies. He also appeared in Universal Pictures' "Snakeville" series. Potel's first talking picture was Melody of Love, starring Walter Pidgeon, made for Universal in 1928. and in the sound era he continued to work continuously and constantly, playing small parts and sometimes uncredited bit parts, all primarily comic roles due to his height (6 ft 1 in or 1.85 m) and gawkiness. In addition to acting, on several occasions Potel also wrote and directed. In the 1920s he directed two silent shorts, The Rubber-Neck in 1924 and Action Craver in 1927, and contributed the story for Saxophobia in 1927. In the following decade, in the sound era, he was the dialogue director for The Big Chance (1933), and wrote the story for Inside Information in 1934). In 1935 he provided continuity and dialogue for Million Dollar Haul and the screenplay for Hot Off the Press. In the 1940s, Potel was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges. Potel continued to work right up until his death on 8 March 1947. The final film he worked on, Relentless finished filming on 28 February of that year.
Filmography
282 credits
Forward, March!
Movie • 1930
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Movie • 1947
Prof. Potelle
The Good Fellows
Movie • 1943
Branders (uncredited)
Adventure's End
Movie • 1937
Tall Sailor (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
Movie • 1942
Mr. McKeewie
The Tomboy on Bar Z
Movie • 1912
Alkali Ike's Auto
Movie • 1911
The Bad One
Movie • 1930
Sailor
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress
Movie • 1912
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Movie • 1938
Steve
King of the Wild
Movie • 1931
Peterson
Christmas in July
Movie • 1940
Davenola Salesman
Who's Your Father?
Movie • 1918
Comedy Role
The Making of Broncho Billy
Movie • 1913
Call of the West
Movie • 1930
Trig Peters
The Virginian
Movie • 1929
Nebrasky
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Movie • 1944
Newspaper Editor
Western Gold
Movie • 1937
Jasper
The Heart of a Child
Movie • 1920
Charley Peastone
The Girl of the Golden West
Movie • 1938
Lem - Stagecoach Driver
Broncho Billy and the Sisters
Movie • 1915
The Minister
Slim the Brave and Sophie the Fair
Movie • 1915
Slippery Slim
When Slippery Slim Went for the Eggs
Movie • 1915
Slippery Slim
Sophie's Home-Coming
Movie • 1915
Slippery Slim
The Battle of Snakeville
Movie • 1915
Slippery Slim
Sophie's Sweetheart
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's Blind Pig
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's Rising Sons
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Slippery Slim Gets Square
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office
Movie • 1914
Sentimental Sophie
Movie • 1915
Slippery Slim
When Slippery Slim Bought the Cheese
Movie • 1915
Slippery Slim
Just a Few Little Things
Movie • 1916
Archie
Ingomar of the Hills
Movie • 1915
Alkali Ike and the Wildman
Movie • 1913
Slippery Slim
Sullivan's Travels
Movie • 1941
Cameraman
Broncho Billy's First Arrest
Movie • 1913
Quincy Adams Sawyer
Movie • 1922
Hiram Maxwell
Baseball Madness
Movie • 1917
The Fighting Marines
Movie • 1935
Fake Native Chief [Ch. 12]
Partners
Movie • 1932
Deputy Lem
Hank and Lank: Uninvited Guests
Movie • 1910
Lank
Hank and Lank: They Get Wise to a New Scheme
Movie • 1910
Lank
Hank and Lank: Lifesavers
Movie • 1910
Lank
A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
Movie • 1910
The Silent Message
Movie • 1910
A Westerner's Way
Movie • 1910
Hank and Lank: As Sandwich Men
Movie • 1910
Lank
Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present
Movie • 1910
A Cowboy's Vindication
Movie • 1910
Hank and Lank: Blind Men
Movie • 1910
Lank
The Bad Man's Christmas Gift
Movie • 1910
The Tenderfoot Messenger
Movie • 1910
The Count and the Cowboys
Movie • 1911
The Count
The Border Ranger
Movie • 1911
A Child of the West
Movie • 1912
The Tenderfoot Foreman
Movie • 1912
The Prospector's Legacy
Movie • 1912
Widow Jenkins' Admirers
Movie • 1912
The Biter Bitten
Movie • 1912
The Oath of His Office
Movie • 1912
The Ranch Girl's Mistake
Movie • 1912
The Two Reformations
Movie • 1911
Hank and Lank: They Make a Mash
Movie • 1911
Lank
The Bad Man's Downfall
Movie • 1911
The Sheriff's Chum
Movie • 1911
Broncho Billy and the Red Man
Movie • 1914
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
Movie • 1911
The Bunco Game at Lizardhead
Movie • 1911
Across the Plains
Movie • 1911
The Infant at Snakeville
Movie • 1911
The Puncher's New Love
Movie • 1911
Broncho Billy and the Bad Man
Movie • 1914
The Storekeeper
The Corporation and the Ranch Girl
Movie • 1911
Broncho Billy-Guardian
Movie • 1914
A Hungry Pair
Movie • 1911
Skinny
Alkali Ike's Pants
Movie • 1912
Broncho Billy Reforms
Movie • 1913
A Thief
The Two Fugitives
Movie • 1911
Broncho Bill's Last Spree
Movie • 1911
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy's Squareness
Movie • 1913
The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine
Movie • 1911
Town Hall, Tonight
Movie • 1911
The Tall Schultz Brother
The Forester's Plea
Movie • 1911
A Dog on Business
Movie • 1910
Hank and Lank: Joyriding
Movie • 1910
Lank
Hank and Lank: They Dude Up Some
Movie • 1910
Lank
The Tout's Remembrance
Movie • 1910
Patricia of the Plains
Movie • 1910
The Bearded Bandit
Movie • 1910
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
Movie • 1915
A Cattle Owner
On the Cactus Trail
Movie • 1912
A Story of Montana
Movie • 1912
Broncho Billy's Pal
Movie • 1912
Broncho Billy for Sheriff
Movie • 1912
Alkali Ike Plays the Devil
Movie • 1912
An Indian Sunbeam
Movie • 1912
A Cowboy
Alkali Ike Stung!
Movie • 1912
Alkali Ike's Close Shave
Movie • 1912
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy's Gun Play
Movie • 1913
Broncho Billy's Promise
Movie • 1912
An Indian's Friendship
Movie • 1912
Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
Movie • 1912
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid
Movie • 1913
Jailer
Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter
Movie • 1913
Broncho Billy's Gratefulness
Movie • 1913
Dr. Huff
The Accusation of Broncho Billy
Movie • 1913
Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist
Movie • 1913
Slippery Slim
Alkali Ike's Homecoming
Movie • 1913
Slippery Slim
Alkali Ike's Misfortunes
Movie • 1913
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's New Doctor
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy's Oath
Movie • 1913
The Last Laugh
Movie • 1913
The Three Gamblers
Movie • 1913
Sophie's Hero
Movie • 1913
Slippery Slim
A Romance of the Hills
Movie • 1913
That Pair from Thespia
Movie • 1913
Second Actor
A Snakeville Courtship
Movie • 1913
Slippery Slim
A Night on the Road
Movie • 1914
Sheriff's Assistant
Sophie's New Foreman
Movie • 1913
Slippery Slim
Slippery Slim Gets Cured
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's Peace-Maker
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
When Slippery Slim Met the Champion
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy Rewarded
Movie • 1914
The Hotel Proprietor
A Gamblers' Way
Movie • 1914
The Bartender
Slippery Slim, The Mortgage and Sophie
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Snakeville and the Corset Demonstrator
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
What Came to Bar Q
Movie • 1914
Bartender
Sophie and the Man of Her Choice
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Slippery Slim and the Impersonator
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy's Sermon
Movie • 1914
The Sheriff
Broncho Billy's Leap
Movie • 1914
Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark
Movie • 1914
The Hotel Clerk
The Revenue Agent
Movie • 1915
The Minister
The Bachelor's Burglar
Movie • 1915
Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber
Movie • 1915
Sophie Starts Something
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
The Snakeville Volunteer
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Sophie Pulls a Good One
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Pie for Sophie
Movie • 1914
Snicklefritz
The Wooing of Sophie
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Sophie Finds a Hero
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Sophie Gets Stung
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
A Horse on Sophie
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Sophie's Fatal Wedding
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's Reform Wave
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's New Waitress
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy Wins Out
Movie • 1914
The School Trustee
Broncho Billy's Wild Ride
Movie • 1914
Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need
Movie • 1914
Broncho Billy, the Vagabond
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim -- Diplomat
Movie • 1914
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy Steps In
Movie • 1915
Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp
Movie • 1915
A Tailor-Made Man
Movie • 1922
Peter
Lavender and Old Lace
Movie • 1921
Joe Pendleton
Damaged Lives
Movie • 1933
Undetermined Role
The Broken Coin
Movie • 1936
God's Country and the Woman
Movie • 1937
Turpentine
The Good-for-Nothing
Movie • 1914
Old Clerk
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Movie • 1919
The Drunkard
Movie • 1935
Farmer Gates
Big Boy Rides Again
Movie • 1935
Ranch Foreman Scarface
Step on It!
Movie • 1922
Noisy Johnson
The Loaded Door
Movie • 1922
Slim
Three Godfathers
Movie • 1936
'Buck Tooth'
One a Minute
Movie • 1921
Jingo Pitts
The Squaw Man
Movie • 1931
Andy
The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
Movie • 1935
Kinso
The Virtuous Sin
Movie • 1930
Sentry
Down to the Sea
Movie • 1936
Andy
Selling Shorts
Movie • 1931
Slim Bassil
Captain Kidd, Jr.
Movie • 1919
Constable Sam
Border Romance
Movie • 1929
Slim
The Last of the Clintons
Movie • 1935
Jed Clinton
It Happened Tomorrow
Movie • 1944
Small Town Boy
Movie • 1937
Abner Towner
Gun Play
Movie • 1935
Brawler (uncredited)
On the Great White Trail
Movie • 1938
Lyons
Frontier Days
Movie • 1934
Deputy Tex Hatch
The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come
Movie • 1928
Tom Turner
Bob Hampton of Placer
Movie • 1921
Willie McNeil
Full of Pep
Movie • 1919
Beanpole
Water, Water, Everywhere
Movie • 1920
Steve Brainard
Below the Line
Movie • 1925
'Cuckoo' Niles
Thunder Over Texas
Movie • 1934
Dick
Reno
Movie • 1923
Detective McRae
Pot o' Gold
Movie • 1941
Olaf Svenson (uncredited)
The Cowboy and the Bandit
Movie • 1935
Lanky
Western Frontier
Movie • 1935
Slim
Hollywood Cavalcade
Movie • 1939
Slim
Yellow Dust
Movie • 1936
Jugger - the Bartender
Scandal Sheet
Movie • 1931
Reporter
The Villain Still Pursued Her
Movie • 1940
Policeman (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
Movie • 1933
Ed Burns, Carnival Patron (uncredited)
Stand Up and Fight
Movie • 1939
Coach Driver
Mississippi
Movie • 1935
Guest (uncredited)
Let Freedom Ring
Movie • 1939
Ole Swensen (uncredited)
Down the Wyoming Trail
Movie • 1939
Slim
Second Fiddle
Movie • 1939
Steve - Crane Operator
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
Movie • 1939
Ranch Hand
Slightly Honorable
Movie • 1939
Gasoline Station Proprietor (Uncredited)
Doughboys
Movie • 1930
Svendenburg
The Housekeeper's Daughter
Movie • 1939
Suspect
Blondie Brings Up Baby
Movie • 1939
Lars (uncredited)
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
Movie • 1933
The General
Paradise Island
Movie • 1930
Swede
Fury
Movie • 1936
Jorgeson (uncredited)
Whispering Smith Speaks
Movie • 1935
Bill Prouty
Rovin' Tumbleweeds
Movie • 1939
Man in Store
The Man in the Trunk
Movie • 1942
Deaf Floor Man (uncredited)
Ten Cents a Dance
Movie • 1931
Smith, a Sailor
Young Tom Edison
Movie • 1940
Mr. Tompkins
The Lady Eve
Movie • 1941
Second Steward (uncredited)
What Darwin Missed
Movie • 1916
Professor Alonzo Bozzle
The Loafer
Movie • 1912
Inside Information
Movie • 1934
Rice - Thin Detective
Mary's Ankle
Movie • 1920
Johnny Stokes
Chip of the Flying U
Movie • 1939
Station Agent
Moonlight on the Prairie
Movie • 1935
Tall Saloon Cowboy
Trail of the Vigilantes
Movie • 1940
Conductor
The Lady from Cheyenne
Movie • 1941
Lem
Ride on Vaquero
Movie • 1941
Ole
Two Gun Law
Movie • 1937
Cassius
Song of the Saddle
Movie • 1936
Little Casino
Man Hunt
Movie • 1936
Townsman Pointing Out Shefiff's Office (uncredited)
White Bondage
Movie • 1937
Luke Stacey
Waterfront Lady
Movie • 1935
Alex
The Great McGinty
Movie • 1940
Cook (uncredited)
Li'l Abner
Movie • 1940
Fantastic Brown
Three Faces West
Movie • 1940
Postman
Captain Swagger
Movie • 1928
Jean
The Captain's Kid
Movie • 1936
Deputy Jake Hutchinson
Flame of Barbary Coast
Movie • 1945
Train Fireman
The Glass Alibi
Movie • 1946
Gas Attendant (as Vic Potel)
Hearts and Saddles
Movie • 1917
Rhythm Round-Up
Movie • 1945
Slim Jensen
Versus Sledge Hammers
Movie • 1915
The Count
At the Sign of the Jack'O Lantern
Movie • 1922
The Poet
His Regeneration
Movie • 1915
Pawn Shop Clerk
Ruggles of Red Gap
Movie • 1935
Curly - Cowboy
Shipmates Forever
Movie • 1935
Loafer (uncredited)
Wagon Wheels West
Movie • 1943
Posse Rider (uncredited)
Melody of Love
Movie • 1928
The Gawk
Uneasy Payments
Movie • 1927
Press Agent
Billions
Movie • 1920
Pushkin
A Petal on the Current
Movie • 1919
The Lodge in the Wilderness
Movie • 1926
Goofus
Racing Romance
Movie • 1926
Constable
Morganson's Finish
Movie • 1926
Ole Jensen
She Couldn't Take It
Movie • 1935
Farmer
The Egg and I
Movie • 1947
Crowbar
The Devil Thumbs a Ride
Movie • 1947
A Medal for Benny
Movie • 1945
Pantera Pepster Club Member (uncredited)
Girl from God's Country
Movie • 1940
Barber
Ten Days
Movie • 1925
Twisted Rails
Movie • 1934
Tom Watson
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
Movie • 1913
Outlaw
Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
Movie • 1913
The Druggist
O'Malley of the Mounted
Movie • 1936
Gabby - the Cook
The Great Moment
Movie • 1944
First Dental Patient
Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
Movie • 1912
Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
Movie • 1911
Broncho Billy's Adventure
Movie • 1911
Cowboy
Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
Movie • 1912
Hail the Conquering Hero
Movie • 1944
Progressive Bandleader (uncredited)
What Price Beauty?
Movie • 1928
Yankee Fakir
Movie • 1947
Contest Chairman
Laughing at Trouble
Movie • 1936
Lem Parker
A Lost Lady
Movie • 1924
Ivy Peters
The Law Forbids
Movie • 1924
Joel Andrews
A Self-Made Failure
Movie • 1924
Pokey Jones
The Bar-C Mystery
Movie • 1926
The Amateur Adventuress
Movie • 1919
Gregory Charles Sentel
Contraband
Movie • 1925
George Bogardus
The Meanest Man in the World
Movie • 1923
Lute Boon
Refuge
Movie • 1923
Alphonse
Modern Matrimony
Movie • 1923
Junior Rutherford
In Mizzoura
Movie • 1919
Dave
The Marriage Bargain
Movie • 1935
Jeff Thompson
Along Came Ruth
Movie • 1924
Oscar Sims
Itching Palms
Movie • 1923
The Village Dumbbell